Whistle Bright Magic

February 1, 2010
Gr 4-6-This story takes place 20 years after the events in "The Fairies of Nutfolk Wood" (HarperCollins, 2006). Willa has a daughter, Zelly, who takes center stage in this novel, as she and her mother return to the small town of Plunkit for her grandmother's funeral. Willa is anxious to return to the city since being in Plunkit brings back bad memories of Zelly's father. But the child feels at home for the first time, bonding with two new friends as they meet the fairy inhabitants of the surrounding forestfairies who are in danger of losing their homes to a housing development. Though the story can stand alone, readers who are familiar with the first book may feel more connected to the characters and the significance of the old house and the paintings of the Nutfolk. The first-person narration is an effective way of showing Zelly's thoughts and emotions, though at times some of her insights seem precocious for a child of her age. At the center of the story is the fairy boy, Whistle Bright, who is at first hostile toward Zelly, but who grows to learn that human children aren't so different from his own kind. Their relationship, as well as Zelly connecting with the father she never knew, provides the book's emotional drive. The story lacks an active threat from the housing developers, but overall it is a satisfying read."Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL"

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